STTR Phase I: Rapid Solar Thermal Gasification and Pyrolysis of Cellulose and Lignin for Renewable Fuel Production

这项小型企业技术转让（STTR）第一阶段研究使用太阳能热能作为一种新的方式，为可再生生物质转化为能源或有用的产品提供必要的能量，并开发设计高效和商业太阳能生物质转化设施所需的科学。 气化和热解的代表性的生物质资源附近的太阳能地区（玉米秸秆和高粱）将通过热重法，受控气溶胶反应，并在阳光下演示这种方法的可行性转换。热重实验将确定化学动力学和合成气和焦油减排的高选择性的必要条件。 经济模拟将确定产品价格的主要成本驱动因素，并突出近期扩大潜力最大的合成气产品，太阳热能应用于生物质热化学转化的广泛影响将在这些可再生能源之间架起一座桥梁，克服与传统生物质加工技术有关的许多挑战。 太阳能与生物质的结合使用比单独使用可再生资源具有更大的潜力，将有助于减轻国家对外国石油的依赖，促进经济增长，创造环境可持续的燃料，并对能源使用的整体人类影响产生影响。

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I research uses solar thermal energy as a novel way to provide the necessary energy for renewable biomass conversion to energy or useful products, and develops the science required to engineer an efficient and commercial solar biomass conversion facility. Gasification and pyrolysis of representative biomass resources grown near solar regions (corn stover and sorghum) will be converted via thermogravimetry, controlled aerosol reaction, and on-sun demonstration of feasibility of this approach. Thermogravimetric experiments will determine chemical kinetics and necessary conditions for high selectivity to syngas and tar mitigation. Economic simulations will determine the main cost drivers for product price and highlight the syngas products with highest near-term scale-up potential.The broader impacts of the application of solar thermal energy to thermochemical conversion of biomass will provide a bridge between these sources of renewable energy that could surmount many of the challenges associated with conventional biomass processing technologies. Combined use of solar energy with biomass has a larger potential than either renewable resource alone and will help alleviate the nation''s dependence on foreign petroleum, generate economic growth, create fuels that are environmentally sustainable, and have an impact on the overall human impact of energy use.